Revolving-tower fortification



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. R. TIMBY.

I REVOLVING TOWERFORTIFIOATION. No. 330,640. Patented Nov. 17, 1885.

N PEYERS Phcloldhugmphcr. Waslvlngtnn, D. c.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. T. R; TIMBY.

REVOLVING TOWER FORTIFIGATION.

Patented Nov. 17, 1885.

N PETERS. Photo-Lilhugmphcn waslun tan. D. c.

(No Moaei. 5 She6ts-Sheet a.

' T. R. TIMBY.

REVOLVING TOWER FORTIPIGATION.

N0. 330,640. Patented Nov. 17, 1885.

N. PEIERS. FhalnLilhogm hcn wmhan m. n. c.

'5 Sheets-Sheet 4. R. TIMBY.

(No Model.)

REVOLVING TOWER PORTIFIGATION.

No. 330,640. Patented Nov. 17, 1885.

N PETERS. PnowLinw m ncr. Wasluinglnn. Dv c 5 Sheets-'-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

T. R. 'TIMBY.

REVOLVING TOWER FORTIFIGATION.

Patented Nov.

N. PETERS, Phukoiillwgmphcf, wmin lm n.6,

THEODORE R. TIMBY, OF NYAOK, NEW YORK.

REVOLVING-TOWER FORTIFICATION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 330,640, datedlNovember 17,1885.

Application filed June 6, 1885. Serial No. 167,865. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE R. 'IIMBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at N yack, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Revolving -Tower' Fortifications, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so construct a revolving tower for fortifications as to pre-' vent the communication to the firing mechanism, or the central shaft by which this is controlled, orthe central well or tube in which said shaft is contained, of any shock produced by the impact of a shot on the outside of the turret or by the firing of guns within the same.

To this end'I detach the central inner tube or well, within which the shaft and firing mechanism are contained, from the main portion of the tower and its flooring, (and I preferably employ two or more concentric cylinders to form the well,) so that a shock on the external walls or on the floors, upon which the guns are mounted may not be communicated to the firing mechanism in the center. The main fioors of thetower may be attached to the outer of the concentric well-tubes, while the floors of the gun-rooms are disconnected from the central or main floor; or, if preferred, the main fioor may be entirely detached from the welltube and have a limited horizontal movement relatively thereto, cushions being employed in either case to take up the shock.

In order that the invention may be better understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a perspective view of my revolving tower and shield. Fig. II is a plan of the same. Fig. III is a vertical section thereof. Fig. IV is a horizontal section thereof, and Fig. V is a vertical section of the central portion of the tower on a larger scale.

In my present invention, as in that described in my application No. 164,932, filed May 9, 1885, the tower is mounted eccentrically within a shield which completely encircles it, the periphery of the tower being close within the wall of the shield at the front portion of the latter. The combined tower and shield are adapted to be turned to face an enemy in any direction, while the tower itself has an independent rotation on its own axis within the shield, so that its guns may be discharged in succession through horizontal slots prepared for the purpose in the front of the shield.

1 represents a stationary foundation, on which the base 2 of the shield 3 is mounted through the medium of friction-rollers 4, any suitable gearing, as illustrated, for example, at 5, being employed to impart a rotary movement to the shield 2 3. The'revolving tower is constructed with external walls, 6, and a bed, 7 supported by anti-friction rollers 8 on the base 2 of the shield, so as to be carried by the shield 2 3, while the tower itself receives an independent rotation on its own axis by gearing 5 or other means. In the front of the shield are horizontal loop holes or slots 9, through which the guns 10 of the revolving tower are discharged as they are brought successively into the line of fire. The front of the shield is re-enforced by plates 11 and the towerwalls 6 by bands 12 on the level of the horizontal slots or loop-holes 9 in the shield 3. The successive discharge of the guns is effected by electricity, as described in Letters Patent No. 312,231, granted to me February 10, 1885, the circuits through the conductors 13 of the respective guns being closed by contact-pieces 14, carried by a central shaft, 15, which is operated by the officer or gunner in a dome, 16, which projects above the top of the surrounding shield. The officer is seated on a platform, 17, mounted on the top of the shaft 15, and turns himself and the circuit-closers at will by suitable gearing, 18, as described in my patent already referred to, the sight being taken by means of a telescope, 19, hinged at 20, close to the wall of the dome, and elevated at its inner end at will, as I have also described in another application for Letters Patent.

In my present invention the well 21, in which the central shaft, 15, of the sighting and firing mechanism is contained, is entirely detached from the outer walls, 6, of the tower and the gun-room floors 22, which may be fixed thereto. To this end I prefer to employ a second tubular shell or well, 23, surrounding the well 21, but having no direct metal contact therewith, cushions 24 being interposed at suitable points between them,and play being allowed between the adjacent metallic surfaces. The conductors 13 may be fixed in the well 21 without electrical connection or contact, the flexible conducting-wires permitting sufficient play between the conductors 13 in the well 21 and the radial conductors, which extend to the several guns. The gun-room floors 22 may be disconnected from the well 23 by adapting them to slide within brackets 26, and in this case one of the two concentric well-tubes 21 23 may be dispensed with; but I prefer to employ two concentric tubes, and the annular space between them being made air-tight I propose to partially exhaust the same of air, so as to further reduce or prevent the conduction of shock from the outside to the inner well, 21, in which the shaft and firing mechanism are contained.

I have shown in Fig. III gearing arranged to rotate the shield and tower bodily or the tower separately on its own axis. The engine 27 drives a worm-gear, 28, which imparts motion to wheel 29 through pinion 30, and revolves the tower through the medium ofgearing 5. The same shaft that carries the pinion 30 also carries a pinion, 31, which revolves the shield 3 through the medium of the wheel 32. The pinions 30 and 31 are so arranged upon their shaft as to be thrown in and out of gear at will with wheels 29 32, thus allowing of the turning of the tower and shield together or independently by the same engine.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A revolving battery-tower constructed with external walls and floors on which the guns are supported, in combination with a central well disconnected from the said gunfloors, and with firing mechanism contained in said well brought into electrical connection with the successive guns by the revolution of said tower, as explained.

2. In a revolving battery-tower, the combination of two or more concentric cylinders forming a central well, the outer cylinder connected to the gun-room floors and the inner one disconnected therefrom and containing automatic mechanism for firing the guns on said floors, as explained.

3. In a revolving battery-tower, the combination of external walls, floors secured thereto on which the guns are supported, two or more concentric cylinders forming a central well within the tower, the outer one connected to the gun-floors and the other inner one disconnected therefrom, and automatic firing mechanism contained in the inner cylinder brought into electrical connection at the proper moment with the successive guns on said gun-room floors, as explained.

. THEODORE R. TIMBY.

Vitnesses:

OOTAVIUS KNIGHT, A. E. TRUMBULL. 

